Spatial summation in the tactile sensory system: Probability summation and neural integration

Psychophysical thresholds for the detection of a 300-Hz burst of vibration applied to the thenar eminence were measured for stimuli applied to the skin through 1.5?cm² and through 0.05?cm² contactors. Thresholds were approximately 13?dB lower when the area of the contactor was 1.5?cm² than when it was 0.05?cm². The difference between the thresholds measured with the large and small contactors was significantly reduced when only the lowest thresholds obtained in the testing sessions were considered. This result supports the hypothesis that one component of spatial summation in the P channel is probability summation. In addition, threshold measurements within a session were less variable when measured with the 1.5?cm² contactor. We conclude that spatial summation in the P channel is a joint function of two processes that occur as the areal extent of the stimulus increases: probability summation in which the probability of exceeding the psychophysical detection threshold increases as the number of receptors of varying sensitivities increases, and neural integration in which neural activity originating from separate receptors is combined within the central nervous system rendering the channel more sensitive to the stimulus.     

广西柿种质资源果实性状多样性分析与模糊综合评价

为进一步揭示广西柿种质资源信息,运用多样性分析和模糊综合评价法对不同生态气候区的柿种质资源果实性状进行研究和评价。结果表明:不同柿种质的果实性状存在丰富的多样性。86份柿种质的模糊综合评价指数FCI值在1.849～3.947之间,平均2.835。根据FCI取值范围将所调查的柿种质分成5个等级,FCI值最高的第5级种质数量最少,占所调查种质的3.49%;FCI值最低的第1级种质数量最多,占所调查种质的48.84%。月柿、牛心柿、大方柿、京柿、鸡心柿、小方柿和火柿等柿品种及一些实生单株的模糊综合评价指数较高,它们的果实综合性状表现较优,建议作为优良品种和单株加以开发和利用。部分单个性状比较优良的实生单株虽不适合于直接推广种植,但可作为柿品种改良的资源加以利用。     

桂西南早熟荔枝实生资源遗传多样性的ISSR分析

利用ISSR标记技术对83份早熟荔枝(品种)单株遗传多样性进行分析。筛选出多态性高的10条IS-SR引物,共扩增出128条DNA条带,其中多态性带107条,多态性百分率为83.59%,表明桂西南早熟荔枝实生资源遗传多样性较丰富;用NTSYS软件计算出这83份材料的DICE相似系数在0.64～0.95之间,遗传亲缘关系较近;用UPGMA方法构建分子树状图,在相似系数0.75时,可将栽培品种与桂西南早熟实生单株区分开。各地区资源混杂聚类在一起,不能按地区单独聚类。     

Sp100与HIV-1整合酶互作并抑制其介导的病毒整合

Sp100是核颗粒ND10的组成蛋白,在哺乳动物细胞中广泛存在．Sp100参与多种细胞生理病理过程,如转录调控、细胞内抗病毒免疫等．利用酵母双杂交系统,我们发现了Sp100的互作蛋白HIV-1整合酶,免疫共沉淀实验进一步证实了Sp100与 HIV-1整合酶的互作,细胞内荧光共定位实验也证实了二者在细胞内部分共定位．此外,突变体实验表明,Sp100的C端300～480氨基酸和HIV-1的催化结构域是两个蛋白质的互作区域．利用siRNA降低细胞内Sp100的表达量,可以增加HIV-1整合酶介导的病毒的整合,反之,细胞内过表达Sp100则会降低HIV-1整合酶介导的病毒的整合．这是首次发现Sp100可以和HIV-1整合酶发生相互作用,并进而抑制病毒的整合．我们发现了Sp100作为HIV-1整合酶互作蛋白的新功能,并扩展了细胞防御病毒感染的相关研究．     

The sense of agency is action–effect causality perception based on cross-modal grouping

Sense of agency, the experience of controlling external events through one''s actions, stems from contiguity between action- and effect-related signals. Here we show that human observers link their action- and effect-related signals using a computational principle common to cross-modal sensory grouping. We first report that the detection of a delay between tactile and visual stimuli is enhanced when both stimuli are synchronized with separate auditory stimuli (experiment 1). This occurs because the synchronized auditory stimuli hinder the potential grouping between tactile and visual stimuli. We subsequently demonstrate an analogous effect on observers'' key press as an action and a sensory event. This change is associated with a modulation in sense of agency; namely, sense of agency, as evaluated by apparent compressions of action–effect intervals (intentional binding) or subjective causality ratings, is impaired when both participant''s action and its putative visual effect events are synchronized with auditory tones (experiments 2 and 3). Moreover, a similar role of action–effect grouping in determining sense of agency is demonstrated when the additional signal is presented in the modality identical to an effect event (experiment 4). These results are consistent with the view that sense of agency is the result of general processes of causal perception and that cross-modal grouping plays a central role in these processes.     

Determining Allocation: From Paper to Practice in the Distribution of Fishing Rights Between Countries

This article discusses the allocation problem in international fisheries management, which is critical to effective resource management. A number of cases where allocation problems exist are reviewed and trends identified. It is concluded that power relationships between the states involved are an important determinant of allocation outcomes. While this may seem a frustrating conclusion, it nevertheless reflects the realities of international cooperation.     

Contribution of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms to Wnt pathway activity in prevalent skeletal disorders

We reported previously that the expression of Wnt-related genes is lower in osteoporotic hip fractures than in osteoarthritis. We aimed to confirm those results by analyzing β-catenin levels and explored potential genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved.     

Recent advances in the cryopreservation of shoot-derived germplasm of economically important fruit trees of Actinidia, Diospyros, Malus, Olea, Prunus, Pyrus and Vitis

This paper presents the advances made over the last decade in cryopreservation of economically important vegetatively propagated fruit trees. Cryopreservation protocols have been established using both dormant buds sampled on field-grown plants and shoot tips sampled on in vitro plantlets. In the case of dormant buds, scions are partially dehydrated by storage at − 5 °C, and then cooled slowly to − 30 °C using low cooling rates (c.a. 1 °C/h) before immersion in liquid nitrogen. After slow rewarming and rehydration of samples, regrowth takes place either through grafting of buds on rootstocks or excision of apices and inoculation in vitro. In the case of shoot tips of in vitro plantlets, the cryopreservation techniques employed are the following: controlled rate cooling procedures involving slow prefreezing followed by immersion in liquid nitrogen or vitrification-based procedures including encapsulation–dehydration, vitrification, encapsulation–vitrification and droplet-vitrification. The current status of cryopreservation for a series of fruit tree species including Actinidia, Diospyros, Malus, Olea, Prunus, Pyrus and Vitis is presented. Routine application of cryopreservation for long-term germplasm storage in genebanks is currently limited to apple and pear, for which large cryopreserved collections have been established at NCGRP, Fort Collins (USA), using dormant buds and in vitro shoot tips, respectively. However, there are a growing number of examples of pilot scale testing experiments under way for different species in various countries. Progress in the further development and application of cryopreservation techniques will be made through a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the induction of tolerance to dehydration and cryopreservation in frozen explants.     

湖北省县级公立医院改革试点医院人力资源配置分析

??????? 目的 了解县级公立医院改革试点医院人力资源配置现状,为合理配置县级公立医院人力资源提供依据。方法 采用现场问卷调查的方法对湖北省12家县级公立医院的960名医护人员进行调查,并对结果进行描述性统计和Spearman秩相关分析 。结果 (1)县级公立医院人力资源数量低于全国平均水平; (2)县级公立医院规模扩张,但是人力资源补给不足;(3)医务人员素质偏低。结论 宏观调控县级公立医院人力资源、促进县级医院的人才引进和培养、增强人力资源质量建设,以提高县级公立医院医疗服务水平。     

芦丁的资源、药理及主要剂型研究进展

芦丁广泛存在于多种天然植物如槐米、苦荞麦、尤曼桉中,在医药、日化、食品等领域有广泛的应用,近年来已成为研究热点.芦丁具有多种生理功能,对人体各个器官均有保护作用,如清除自由基、促进成骨细胞的生长、降低血糖、抑制结肠癌和前列腺癌等.本文对芦丁的资源来源、药理作用和剂型进行了简述.